As it is Real Nappy Week I thought I would write about another, unusual, alternative to nappies – Elimination Communication or EC.

Some parents have learnt that by observing their babies it is possible to understand when their babies want to wee or poo. This may sound far-fetched, but in much of the world babies do not wear nappies.

Mothers who are feeding and carrying their babies can quickly learn to recognise the signals that their baby exhibits when s/he needs to “eliminate”. Indeed this is something I have seen with my own eyes – I was fascinated to watch a mother hold her baby over a toilet – she always held her baby in the same way and made a little sound which was her signal to the baby to wee or poo. Amazingly the baby performed!

Although it may not be practical or desirable for everyone, it is certainly worth learning more.